Your Eye Doctor Might be Able to Help Predict a Stroke

Most people schedule routine eye exams to update their glasses prescription or monitor eye health. But did you know that a comprehensive eye examination may also provide important clues about your overall health, including your risk for stroke?

Emerging research suggests that the tiny blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye, may reveal early warning signs of vascular disease. In the future, retinal imaging could become an important tool for identifying people at increased risk of stroke before symptoms ever appear.

Why the Retina Matters

The retina is unique because it is one of the only places in the body where doctors can directly observe blood vessels without surgery or other invasive procedures. Because these blood vessels closely reflect the health of the body’s circulatory system, changes in the retina may signal conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and other cardiovascular diseases.

A Vascular Fingerprint for Stroke Risk

Researchers recently analyzed retinal images from more than 45,000 participants and identified 118 measurable features of the retinal blood vessels. Of those, 29 vascular indicators were associated with a person’s risk of experiencing a stroke. Together, these characteristics create what researchers describe as a retinal “vascular fingerprint.” The study found that this retinal fingerprint, combined with a person’s age and sex, predicts future stroke risk as well as traditional methods.

What This Means for Patients

A routine eye exam cannot diagnose a stroke before it happens, and retinal imaging alone cannot determine whether someone will experience one; however, your eye doctor may detect signs of underlying vascular disease that warrant further evaluation by your primary care physician or a specialist.

Eye Exams at Fisher-Swale Nicholson Eye Center

Call us at (815) 932-2020 to make an appointment with Fisher-Swale-Nicholson Eye Center today.